Camellia Plant Named &#39;HA0326&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Camellia  plant named ‘HA0326’, characterized by its sturdy upright plant habit; rapid growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; leathery dark green-colored leaves; flowering during the summer, autumn and winter; large light red-colored single-type flowers with white-colored margins; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Camellia japonica X Camellia changii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HA0326’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camelliaplant, botanically known as Camellia japonica X Camellia changii, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘HA0326’.

The new Camellia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Zhaoqing, China. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new fast-growing Camellia plants thatflower year-round and tolerate full sunlight.

The new Camellia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventors in October, 2006 in Zhaoqing, China of Camellia japonica‘Tama Beauty’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with anunnamed seedling selection of Camellia changii, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Camellia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventors as a single plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Zhaoqing,China in September, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Camellia plant by grafting cuttings ontoan unnamed selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented, in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Zhaoqing, China has shown that theunique features of this new Camellia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Camellia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HA0326’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HA0326’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCamellia:

-   -   1. Sturdy upright plant habit.    -   2. Rapid growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Leathery dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Flowering during the summer, autumn and winter.    -   6. Large light red-colored single-type flowers with        white-colored margins.    -   7. Good garden performance, tolerant to full sunlight        conditions.

Plants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the female parent,‘Tama Beauty’, primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia have fewer stamens than        flowers of plants of ‘Tama Beauty’.    -   2. Plants of the new Camellia flower multiple times during the        year whereas plants of plants of ‘Tama Beauty’ flower once a        year.

Plants of the new Camellia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Camellia are elliptic in shape        whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection are        lanceolate in shape.    -   2. Margins of leaves of plants of the new Camellia are serrate        whereas margins of leaves of plants of the male parent selection        are entire.    -   3. Plants of the new Camellia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have solid red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Camellia can also be compared to the plants ofCamellia ‘Yu Zhi Pu’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plantsof the new Camellia differ from plants of the ‘Yu Zhi Pu’ in floweringhabit as plants of the new Camellia flower multiple times during theyear whereas plants of plants of ‘Yu Zhi Pu’ only flower one time eachyear. In addition, plants of the new Camellia have lighter red-coloredflowers than plants of ‘Yu Zhi Pu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Camellia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Camellia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HA0326’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up view of typical vegetivestems, developing flower buds and developing flowers of ‘HA0326’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Zhaoqing, China in an outdoornursery during the late autumn and under cultural practices typical ofcommercial Camellia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 22° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C.Plants were five years old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Camellia japonica X Camellia changii    ‘HA0326’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Camellia japonica ‘Tama Beauty’,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Camellia changii, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By grafting cuttings onto a rootstock, an unnamed            selection of Camellia gaozhouensis, not patented.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two            months days at temperatures about 28° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            months days at temperatures about 8° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;            sturdy upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid            growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about two to three            primary lateral branches each with about four to five            secondary branches; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 165 cm.        -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 85 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length, secondary branches:            About 20 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Internode length: About            2.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° to            40° from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy; woody with development. Color, young stems:            Close to 199A; at the internodes, close to 140D. Color,            older stems: Close to 199A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Length:            About 8.9 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Serrate. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, arcuate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; leathery; moderately glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; matte. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 144D; color            becoming closer to 144D in the autumn. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to            146B; color does not change with the seasons.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Single-type rotate            flowers, flowers terminal and axillary; freely flowering            habit with usually about 18 flowers and flower buds            developing per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly to            dropping.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Camellia flower            during the summer, autumn and winter in Zhaoqing, China.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Plants maintain good flower            substance for about ten days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 11.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6.2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About eight imbricate            petals arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 5.7 cm.            Width: About 4.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex:            Obcordate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 46C; margins, close to N155C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 50A; margins, close to            N155B; venation, close to 53B; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 50A;            margins, close to N155B; venation, close to 50A; color does            not change with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six imbricate sepals            arranged in a shallow cup-shaped calyx. Length: About            1.6 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Rotund. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; moderately            glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 8C.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 8B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 143C. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 143D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Aspect:            About 25° to 35° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:            About 97. Filament length: About 3.7 cm. Filament color:            Close to 29B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 2.1            mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 9A. Gynoecium: Quantity of            pistils per flower: Tri-parted. Pistil length: About 3.1 cm.            Style length: About 3 cm. Style color: Close to 10B. Stigma            color: Close to 10A. Ovary color: Close to 10B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed production have not been            observed on plants of the new Camellia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Camellia have been observed    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, full    sunlight and temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 40° C.-   Disease & pest resistant: Plants of the new Camellia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Camellia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named‘HA0326’ as illustrated and described.